Third International Conference on Tourism & Leisure Studies

Abstract

In an increasingly globalised society, where different and often opposing worldviews proliferate, hospitality workers must often interact with different cultures and mediate the relationship between visitors and the host communities. Rated as one of the most important skills in the hospitality industry, intercultural competence (IC) is steadily making its way into the curricula and becoming a key issue in tourism education. In this paper, researchers set out to present a comprehensive and exploratory review on the role intercultural competence plays within undergraduate degrees in tourism taking place in Portuguese higher education institutions (HEI). Using both primary and secondary sources, they surveyed a total of fifty-six programs and reflect on how intercultural competence is currently integrated in the different study plans. Within this framework, they also discuss current student mobility strategies and how they can contribute towards student and institutional internationalization. In general, results indicate that most programs cover intercultural issues, being, therefore, aligned with current market and educational trends.